Motion-picture-projecting machine



Oct. 15, 1929. o. J. ANTONELLI I 1,731,733

MOTION PICTURE PROJECTING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR 4 &- W

BY A7 rown 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Z BY ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1929. o. J.ANTONELLI MOTION PICTURE PROJECTING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1925 1929- o.J. ANTONELLI MOTION PICTURE PROJECTING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1925 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN'I'OR Oct. 15, 1929. 0. J. ANTONELLI MOTION PICTUREPROJECTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 11, 1925 INVENTOR 2 .MI3a .frl ill I:

6 BY W 5 ATTORNEY preferably 0 Patented Oct. 15, 1929 PATENT OFFICEORAZIO J. ANTONELLI, OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS IOTION-PIGTURE-PROJ' ECTDI G MACHINE Application filed. July 11,

This invention relates to a motion picture projecting machine of noveland improved construction.

It is an object to provide a device of'this character in which afterprojection has been completed the mechanism will automatically rewindthe film andthen repeat the proj ection,-this sequence of operationoccurring as often as desired.

Another object is that of constructing a. device of this type in whichthe rewinding phase of the cycle of operation occurs at greaterefiec-tive speed than the projecting phase thereof.

Still another object is that of furnishing a machine in which, upon theprojecting operation or phase being completed, a second apparatus willbe set in operation, so that, if desired, this second apparatus will beactuated during the period of rewind of the first machine. I

A further object is that of constructing a machine in which the strainsto which the film is subjected will be reduced to a minimum, so thatthe'machine will operate over comparatively long periods of time withoutnecessity of repair or renewal of the film due to breakage; and the aparatus, in addition to other uses, will he 0 particular value inconnection with advertising, demonstrations by salesmen, etc.

A still further object is that of furnishing a projecting machine inwhich the parts will erate in a virtually automatic manner, and in whichthese operations will be of a positive nature and will be accom lishedby relatively simple mechanisms, so ,1; at the apparatus itself may bereliedupon and ma be utilized by persons relatively inexperienced in theoperation of jecting machines. I

An additional object is that of providing a device which will eflicientlrform the purposes for which it is inten e and which will also beeconomically and readily manufactured and easily assembled.

With these and further objects in mind, the invention accordinglycomprises the features of construction, combination of elements andarrangement of parts which will be exemmotion picture pro- 1885. SerialNo. 42,947.

plified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the inventionreference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the left side of the projecting machine andshowing the film and sprocketcompartment;

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation of the right side of the machine andshowing the operatin mechanism thereof;

ig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of certain of the operatingmechanism as shown in Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 to 11 inclusive are views of certain of the details of theoperating mechanism;

Fig. 12 shows the wiring circuit involved;

Fig. 13 is a rear elevation of the gate; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional side view of the gate assembly and taken alongthe lines 1t14 of Fi 13.

Re erring primarily to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 15 indicates thecasing of the apparatns, which, for the sake of portability, in

, the present exemplification is provided with a handle 16. The interiorof this casing is divided into two compartments by the use of alongitudinally-extending partition 17 preferably of fire-proof material,such as sheet metal. The first of these compartments houses the film andsprocket mechanisms, while the second houses the electrical apparatusand the mechanism which serves to actuate the film reels, sprockets,etc.

Referrin generally to the apparatus housed wit in the first compartment,it will be observed that a pair of reel-shafts 18 and 19 extend throughthe partition 17 and that reels 20 and 21 res ectively are fixed tothese shafts. The first of t ese reels ma if desired, be onclosed withina case 22 ormed with a slot for the passage of the film strip 23, andthis reel in the present embodiment is the one which receives the filmduring the projecting operation. The reel 21 receives the film durthethe the rewind operation, and if desired, a

em 24 may be provided adjacent the edge of reel in order to guardagainst a displacement of the film, which is further prevented in bothreels by the use of guards 25 inst the outermost convolu-- which bear ations of the and are swingingly secured to the partition-member by theuse of'shafts 26 and-27, respectively.

Inits passage between the reels the film traverses the various sprocketsguide-rOlIers,

etc. which have been generally shown in Fig. llor example, following thefilm from the. reel 21 it will be noted that the partition 17 carries aroller 28, under which the film passes,

and immediately beyond this roller is a second roller 29, which ismounted upon an arm 30 bent to provide a shaft which extends through thepartition and is connected upon the opposite side thereof to operate adisconnectswitch in the event of film breakage. Thus,

the film passes over a feed-sprocket- 31, and

3 subsequently throu h the gate 32 of the projector, this latter e ementbeing hereinafter ,.more particularly described. Immediately atter bymeans of a reflecting and condenser'unit 37, whichreceives illumination,for example, from a bulb mounted in the mechanism compartment. I

Referring to this apparatus compartment, itwill primarily be observedthat a bulb 38, as aforementioned, is mounted adjacent the opening inthepartition 17 through .whichthe unit 37 is visible, andobviously areflector may be employed as in the usual construction in order-t0direct a maximum amount of the light rays through this opening. The lamp38 is mounted in a socket 39, which, if desired,

is connected'with a variable resistance 41 con-' tainedwithin a suitablehousing 42 bymeans .of leads 40, so that the brilliancy of the source ofillumination may be regulated with nicety by means of the knob 43.

The entire apparatus is in the present in- :stancedriven by a motor 44,the power shaft 45 of which'drives a belt 46 connected by means of apulley 47 with what is termed prlmar drive-shaft 48, this shaft servingto drive e reels and" sprockets, as hereinafter brought out.

; .Referring primarily to the intermittent rocket drive, it will benoted, as in Fig. 3, .-t at the-shaft 48 has one of its ends Supportedaframe 49 extending from the partifate 32,light being projectedthroughedge of the drum casin 52.

tion 17, and that this shaft carries a disk 50 which is fixedly mountedthereon, and which disk supports an inwardly-extending pin 51. A drum 52is also carried by the shaft 48 and is rotatable with respect thereto.This drum,

by means of a partition 53 is divided into two compartments, the outerof which encloses a hub 54 rotatably encircling the shaft 48, a,

spring 55 being coiled around this hub and having at least one of itsends extending through and beyond a slot 56 formedin the periphery ofthe drum body. The inner compartment of the drum houses a gear 57, whichis slidably attached to the shaft 48, and this gear meshes with a gear58 carried upon a stub-shaft (not shown) secured to the partition 53,the teeth of this gear in turn meshing with. a gear 59 mounted upon acountershaft 60, to which latter a pin-carrying disk 61 forming oneelement of a Geneva move-- mentis secured. The shaft 48 terminates at apoint immediately beyond .the gear '57, and

a shaft 62 arranged in line with the end of the shaft 48 rotatablysupports the drum 52 and carries at its outer end the intermittent.sprocket 33, its body being rotatably supported by the partition 17. Atits inner end,i. e., the end which extends into the drum,this lattershaft supports'the Maltese cross of the Geneva movement, and has asocket, into which the male end. of the shaft 48 extends.

Now with a view to obtaining a proper operation of the parts when theshaft 48 is driven, it will be noted that in'the present exemplificationa shifting-band 63 is rockingly attached to a bracket 64 secured to themain partition, as has been particularly shown in Figs. guide-lugs orforks 65, which straddle the peripheral edge of the disk 50. As aconse-. quence, if the band 63 is swung in the manner hereinafterbrought out it will be obvious that the disk will be rojected orretracted with the shaft 48, and consequently, the pin 51 maybe moved inrelation to the spring 55. so that their paths of travel intersect. Inadditionto the In or forks the band 63 carries a stop-mem r 66, which isdisposed in such a position that, whenthe band is shift-.

2 and 4. i This band carries 55, this stop will be engageable. with thatend of the spring 55 which projects beyond the Thus, it will be appreclated that if the shaft 48 is driven by means of the pulley 47 this willf result in a rotation of the disk 50. However,

presumin that the parts are in the position illustrate in Fig. 3, and inview of the fact that the disk is not in a position at which the.

pin 51 carried' thereby engages the spring,

it will have nouseful flmction. Due to the frictional engagement of theparts the drum 52 will, of course, tend to turn withthe shaft 48, butthis tendency will be in turn counterand 59 and the shaft 60, there movein unison wit acted due to the fact that the end of a spring will engagethe lug 66, thus holding the drum 52 statlonary. As a consequence, thegear 57 will rotate with respect to the partition 53 which forms a partof the drum, and this rotation will result in a drivin of the gears 58 yoperating the pin-carrying disk 61 of the Geneva movement, which willresult in an intermittent movement on the part of the shaft 62 andsprocket 33.

When, on the other hand, the band is shifted so that the guide-lugs 65move the disk 50 inwardly it will be appreciated primarily that the lug66 will move to a position beyond the end of the spring 55, and, as aconsequence, the drum may be freel turned. The pin 51 will also be movedincident to such shifting so that it will travel in a path which will beinterrupted by the spring. As a consequence, the pin will will be movedin synchronism with the disk. Under such conditions it will be apparentthat no driving of the gear train will occur and that the Genevamovement will also not be actuated. Conse uently, th shaft 62 will thesha 48, and the sprocket 33 will be driven at the same speed tocontinuously move the film at a correspondin rate.

ow with a view to driving the sprockets 31 and 34 it will be observedthat the first of these sprockets is carried by a shaft 67, which istermed the secondary drive-shaft, and the second of these sprockets, asin Figs. 1 and 2, is mounted upon a shaft 68. These latter shafts carrysprocket gears 69 and 70, respectively, and at this time it will benoted that the drum 52 carries at its inner end, i. e., that end nearestthe sprocket 33, a l k casing or runway 71, within which one portion 72of a double gear is disposed, this gear being rotatably mounted upon asuitable bushing 73 which su ports the shaft 62. The secondary portion 0this gear, which is in the nature of a sprocket 74, extends beyond thecasing or runway 71, and a chain or other suitable connecting element 75passes around the sprocket gears 69, 70 and 74. It will furthermore benoted that the countershaft 60 will be continuously rotated so that thegear 74 will be correspondingly moved, which will in turn impart asimultaneous and corresponding movement to the sprockets 31 and 34. If,on the other hand, the disk 50 is coupled with the drum in the manneraforedescribed the sprocket 74 will move in synchronism with the shaft48, but such movement will be in a direction reverse to the movementaforedescribed, and this movementwill be at a much higher rate by virtueof the fact that no reduction drive is involved.

It will be understood that any desired mechanismmay be employed for thepurpose of driving the shutter (shown in dotted lines engage thiselement and the drum at 148 in Fig. 2). For example, as has beenindicated in this figure, as well as in Fig. 3, the shaft 48 may carry agear 149 which meshes with the teeth of a gear 150 carried by the frame49, and this gear in turn may mesh with a gear 151 suitably connected tothe shutter, as in conventional construction.

Referring to the mechanism by means of which the reel shafts 18 and 19are driven, it will be noted that the secondary drive shaft 67, asaforestated, will be driven by the chain 75, and that this shaftsupports a pair of opposed clutch elements 77 and 78. While theseelements may take any desired form, it is preferred to have them embodya construction of the nature shown in Figs. 8 to 11, in which it will benoted that the clutch 77 consists of a ball-retaining member 79 and awedgingmember 80, and that the clutch 78 consists of correspondingelements 81 and 82, respectively. Thus, the members and 82, beingsecuredto shaft 67, and with their wedging elements extending in oppositedirections, it will be understood that one of these clutches will lockwhen the shaft 67 is rotated in clock-wise direction, while the secondof the same will have lost motion, and if this shaft is rotated incounter-clockwise direction the second clutch will lock, while the firstwill have lost motion.

In order to connect these elements with the reel shafts it will be notedthat in the present instance they are each provided with an annu larperipheral groove 83, and resting one' within each of these grooves aresuitable connecting members 84 and 85. -As in Fig. 2, the first of thesemembers traverses an idler 86 and passes around a grooved pulley 87affixed to the shaft 19. The second of these members i ewise passes overan idler 88, and thence to a grooved pulley 89 affixed to the shaft 19.

Thus, during projection, and when the drum 52 is held against rotation,the shaft 18 and reel 20 will be driven to receive the film strip and towind the same upon the reel 20. During the rewind operation, however,and when the drum moves with the shafts 48 and 62, the member will notbe driven, but the member 84 will be positively driven to corretivelyshift the band and consequently effect a coupling of the drum with theshaft or a retention of the latter while permitting a driving of theformer, a mechanism has been especially devised, which has been shownparticularly in Figs. 2,3 and 4. The actuating elements for thismechanism have been shown in Fig. 1. Referring primarily to the latter,it will be noted in the figure designated that the guard 25 associatedwith the reel 21 is extended as at 90 beyond the shaft 26. Adjacent thisextension is a trigger 91 attached to a shaft 92, and an arm 93 isattached to a shaft 94 and carries a pin 95, which may turning of theshaft 94. The guard 25 which is associated with the reel 22 and carriedby *the shaft 27 has a pin-carrying arm 96, the

pin of which rides in a slot 97 formed at the lower end of a link 98.The upper end of this link is attached to a trigger 99 having itsopposite end supported by a shaft 100, an arm 101 being disposedadjacent this trigger and mounted upon a shaft 102; this arm carrying apin 103 cooperable with the trigger 99 in order, in certain instances,to prevent a turning of the shaft 102.

With reference to the band-shifting mechanism, and also with a View toharmonizing the movementsof the shafts 94 and 102,it will be noted, asin Figs. 2 and 3, that these shafts are extended through the partition17. The first: of these shafts carries at its outer end a crank 104, tothe outen end of which a link 105 is attached; this link being securedto a crank arm 106 attached to the shaft 102. Thus, it will be,appreciated again referring to Fig. 1that when, forexample, the arm 93is restrained against movement by means of the trigger 91 the arm 101will be in a position at which its pin is free of the trigger 99, and acontrary condition of facts will exist when the trigger 91- is moved toits releasing position, it being obvious that the movements of the arms95 and 101 will be synchronized by the coupling afiorded by the link105. Furthermore, it will be apparent that with an arrangement of partssimilar to that shown in Fig. 1, which will occur during the projectingphase of the cycle of operation, the guard 25 associated with the reel21 will gradually have its outer end swing downwardly as the film uponthis reel is passed to the reel 20. When merely a certain minimum offilm is left upon the reel 21 the trigger 91 will be thrown to releasedposition by being engaged by the arm 90. This will release the pin 95ofthe arm 93 and permit the latter to swing, and upon this actionoccurring it is obvious that the arm 101 will be swung to a position atwhich its pin 103 will be engaged by the" trigger99.

Conversely, assuming that the rewind phase of the machine is occurringthe guard 25 associated" with the reel 20 will swing inwardly as thefilm passes from this latter reel to the reel 21. Through such swingingthepin 103 will be engaged by the trigger 99, while the pin 95 of thearm 93 will be out of contact with thetrigger 91. During the ma orportion of the inward travel of the last mentioned guard 25 the trigger99- will not be actuated, due to the pin-and-slot connectlon extant at97.' However, after all film short of a certain minimum has beenexhausted from the reel 20 the trigger 99-will be actuated tQreleasepermit the the am 101, and, consequently,

' in Fig.

latter to move tothe position shown 1, which'will obviously result inthe arm 95 cooperate with the trigger91 to prevent a again assuming theposition also shown in this figure.

The shifting of the band 63 is accomplished in the present instance bysecuring a cam 107 to the shaft 102 and providing a guide 108 upon theband with which this cam cooperates. Thus, in the position shown in Fig2,

in which the parts are set for projection, the- 4, and the cam will alsobe shifted to the posi:

tion indicated in this figure, in which position the disk is coupledwith the drum in order to rotate the same. 7

With a view to providing a potentialized element serving to effect apositive shifting of the parts when one or the other of the triggers hasbeen released it will be noted,

particularly as in Fig. 3, that the shaft 94 rotatably supports a gear109, to which a disk 110 is coupled. This disk is provided with anoutwardly-extending arm 111, to

which one end of a spring 112 is attached, the opposite end of thisspring being attached to an extension 113 forming a part of the crank104 and-extending upon the opposite side of the shaft 94. It will beobvious that if the spring is under tension, as in Fig. 2, and upon thetrigger 91 being released, the arm 104, and consequently the link 105,will be positively shifted thereby, and if the spring is again tensionedit will be apparent that subsequently, and upon the trigger 99 beingactuated, the spring will again serve to shift the link 105,and in thisinstanceback to the position shown in Fig. 1.

With a view to automatically effecting such tensioning of the spring itwill be noted that the secondary drive-shaft, i. e., the shaft 67,carries a gear 114 fixedly secured thereto. As a consequence, this gearwill be positively rotated in clockwise-or counterclockwise direction,according to the direction of rotation ofthis shaft. A countershaft 115is secured to the partition 17 and in a position between shafts 67 and94. This shaft carries a gear, the teeth of which mesh both with gears114 and 109 so that motion is trans,- mitted from the formerto thelatter. With reference to the construction of the gear posi-- tionedupon the shaft'115, attention is particularly invited to Figs. 3,4 and7. In these 'views it will be notedthat this gear includes a hollow body116 formed with an annular series of'teeth 117. This series of teeth isinterrupted by peripheral openings 118 which aflord communication withthe interior of the gear body. Positioned within this body is a pair ofoppositely-extending 1,7a1,7ss

pawl-members 119, which are pressed in opposite'directions by a spring120, and the ends of these pawl-members terminate in teeth 121, whichcorrespond to the teeth of the series 117.

Conceding that the trigger 91 has just been thrown, and that the spring112 has actuated the link in the manner aforedescribed, it will beobviousthat the direction of movement of the shaft 67 will be reversed.I As a consequence of such reversal the gear 114 will engage one of theteeth 121 and tend to swing t e same outwardly, Thus, the gear body thegear 114 will engage the series of teeth 117' and continue the rotationof the body 115 until such time as it engages with the tooth 121 of thesecond pawl-member, in which position it will override this tooth, and,consequently, the Igear 115 will not be turned any further. ue to thefact that the disk is coupled to the gear 109, this disk will also beturned, for the reason that during the partial rotation of the body 116the gear 109 willbe driven. This action of the parts will serve topotentialize the spring, and upon the triggerbeing released it will beapparent that the spring will serve to effect a shifting of the band,and, consequently, the disk. Incident to such shifting, however, thedirection of drive of the shaft 67 will again be reversed, which willobviously cause the gear 114 to againswing the gear body 116, due to thefact that it will not continue to override the tooth 121 of the secondpawlmember, but will rather tend to force the same outwardly. The gearwill now again be turned to correspondingly move the gear 109 untiltheteeth of the gear 114 reach a position at which they engage the secondpawl-member, where again they will override this part.

In addition to shifting the band, the link l by the bracket. Adjacentits lower end the- 105, when actuated, serves to throw a twoway switch122 to one of its extreme positions. In one of; these positions, and ashas been shown in Fig. 12, it serves to close the circuit through leads123 of the bulb 38. This, of course, will occur during the pro- In itsother position the switch discontinues the circuit jecting phase of thecycle.

through the leads 124, these latter leads being connected, if desired,with a second projecting machine, an electric bulb, a stereopticonmachine, or any other desired element, so

that the -latter will be actuated during the Y rewind operation of themachine just de-.

scribed.

The movements of the disk-110 are limited preferably by the use of astop-pin 125 secured to thepartition and engageablewith shoulders 126formed in the edge of the disk. These shoulders also act. as camsurfaces to actuate a-switch 127, which, when open, serves to connectthe motor 44 with a source which will be prevented. 116 will be turned,and

nism,

of energy (not shown), but with which the" closed, the switch 127bridges across a certain amount of the resistance 129 in order to sup--ply a greater amount of current to the motor during the rewindoperation, which is desirable due to the higher rateof speed atwhich thefilm is moved, and, consequently, the greater resistance offered by theoperation of the parts. I

The arm .30, as aforestated, is operatively coupled with a disconnectswitch, which has been shown at 131, and in the event of film breakage,and this switch opening the circuit, the parts may, by a cut-in switch132. The switches 133 and 134 control, respectively, the bulb 38 andmotor 44, and if during projection it may for some reason be desired toenergize, for ex-.

nevertheless, be operated Finally, with reference to the gatemechaextends upwardly and adjacent the inner end' of the shaft 137, atwhich point it rockingly encircles the latter. A plate 139 is disposedadjacent the arm 136 and has its outer end encirclin the shaft 137 atpoints between the arm and racket. The plate is formed with a framingopening a window 140 and has a lug 141 extending outwardly from body andbeyond the outer edge of the arm, this ug being engaged by a spring 142carried arm 136 is enlarged as at 143, and at this point it supports aplate 144 which is curved to conform to the contour of the sprocket 33and is grooved to accommodate the teeth of the latter. While theconnection between the plate 144 and the enlargement of the arm may beestablished in any desired manner, it is preferred that a spring 145 beutilized for this purpose.

which has been generally indicated at primarily invited to Figs. 13

er may include an arm 136, which is Thus, it will be obvious that theelements of the gate turn substantially as one unit around the shaft137. With the film in position it will be understood that the arm 136may be swung inwardly, and in such movement will carry with it the plate139, WlllCh will come to lie with its inner face adjacent the outer faceof the-film, in which position the framing opening 140 will be in linewith the light opening of the projecting mach ne, as has been shown inFig. 14. A contmulng inward movement of the arm will result in theplate. 144 yieldingly pressing the film against theperiphery. of theSprocket and it will I here be noted that incident to the lug 141 andspring 142 a similar pressing actionwilloccur between the plate 139 andthe film strip. Ob-

viously, the gate may be retained in this po- 'addition to thesimplicity of the gate and the :fact that all of its parts are supportedby a common shaft, and that a portion thereof serves to preventdisplacement of the .film from the intermittent sprocket, the loop willat all times be maintained, as will readily be apparent.

Reviewing' the operation of this machine, it will be understood that thefilm is placed upon the reel 21 and its ends threaded around the variousrollers and sprockets, care being taken to establish loops in advance,and to the rear, of the intermittent sprocket 33. The end of the film iscoiled around the reel 20 and the machine is now ready for operation.Such operation can be secured by closing the switches 133 and 134, whichwill energize both the bulb 38 and the motor 44, thus driving thesprocket 33 intermittently and the sprockets 31 and 34 constantly, andalso driving the reel 20 constantly.

may be discontinued at any time by simply 1 sequently,

openingythe switches last referred to, but if they are maintained inclosed position the operation will continue until reel 20 has re ceivedvirtually all the film and the quantity of film upon the reel 21 hasbeen reduced to a minimum. Upon this condition prevailing the guard 25would have swung to the position at which the trigger 91 is actuated soas to release the arm 93, swing the arm 101 to a position at which it isengaged by the trigger 9,9 and actuate the link 105 to not alone operatethe switch 122 to discontinue the energization of the bulb 38, but alsoto close the switch 127 to pass more current through the motor 44. Inaddition to this operation the disk '50 will have-shifted to a positionat w 'ch it is coupled with the drum, and, conthe film begins to rewindand at a much higher rate of speed than that at .which projectionoccurred. Current will not pass through the leads 124 for the purposeaforestated, andat the initial stages of the rewind operation thespring-112 will againbe potentialized, as has been aforedescribed. Thisrewind will continueuntil the guard 25 actuates the trigger 99, thuspermitting the arm 101 to shift, which will result in a disconnecting ofthe disk from the drum to again continue the projecting operation, andthis operation will also result in the switch 127 being opened, theswitch 122 being thrown to discontinue the currentthrough the leads 124and-to also cause the'bulb 38 to be ener- The operation:

mamas gized. During this reversal the film loop will be maintained, andit will be obvious that if any'film breakage should occur, resulting inan operation of the disconnect switch 131, the other switches may beactuated to effect the results desired.

Thus, among others, the objects mentioned are accomplished, and sincecertain changes may be made in the above construction and differentembodiments of the invention could be made without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription orshown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as amatter of the same, a source of power connected with the second shaft toturn the same constantly in one direction, an intermittent mechanism totranslate the movement of the last-named shaft into periodic movement onthe part of the first-named shaft, a housing for said mechanism andforming a part thereof, means for. retaining said housing and parts ofsaid mechanism substantially stationary during the projecting phase ofthe machine, and means for rotating said housing in substantial unisonwith said last-named shaft during the rewind phase of the machinewhereby to render said mechanism inoperative and to drive said shafts inunison.

2.1%. motion picture projecting machine, including, in combination, apair of shafts, a source of powerconnected with one of the same toconstantly drive it in one direction, film-feeding mechanism connectedwith the second of said shafts, intermittent mechanism including a pairof members, one connected with said latter shaft and the other connectedwith said first-named shaft, a housing supporting one of said members,meansfor retaining said housing substantially stationary during onephase of operation of the machine to periodically actuate saidfilm-feeding means and in a direction reversed with respect to saidfirst-named shaft, and means for coupling said housing with saidfirstnamed shaft to drive the same in unison therewith whereby to rendersaid intermittent.

mechanism inoperative during another phase thereon for automaticallydirection reverse to its first direction of movement.

3. A motion picture projecting machine, including, in combination, apair of reels, a film-engaging sprocket between said reels, meansassociated with one of said reels for automatically operating saidsprocket intermittently in one direction and constantly in anotherdirection, and means bearing against the surface of the film upon saidreels and shifted according to the thickness of the film body thereonfor automatically controlling said last-named means.

4. A motion picture projecting machine, including, in combination, apair of reels,-a film-engaging sprocket between said reels, meansassociated with one of said reels for automatically operating saidsprocket intermittently in one direction and constantly in anotherdirection, means bearing against the surface of the film upon said reelsand shifted according to the thickness of the film body controlling saidlast-named means, and means for potentializing said latter means.

'5. A motion picture projecting machine, including, in combination, anintermittentlyoperated sprocket, means for supporting the film, and agate disposed adjacent said sprocket, said gate including a plate formedwith a window, an arm disposed adjacent said plate, a resilientconnection between said arm and plate, a shaft supporting both of thesame, said film passing adjacent said plate and in line with the windowof the same, and a further plate carried by said arm and hearing againstsaid film in order to press the same into operative contact with saidsprocket.

6. A motion picture projecting machine, including, in combination, anintermittentlyoperated sprocket, means for'supporting the film, and agate disposed ad acent said sprocket, said gate including a plate formedwith a window, an arm disposed adjacent said plate, a resilientconnection between said arm and plate, a shaft supporting both of thesame, said film passing adjacent said plate and in line with the windowof the same, a second plate, and means for yieldingly connecting saidlatter plate with said arm, said plate lying adjacent said sprocket andpressinglsaid film into operative engagement therewit In testimonywhereofl aflix m signature.

ORAZIO J. ANT NELLI.

